In my own personal Mastermind group last week, I sat around a large table with other business owners and contemplated 2009. Yikes. What a year. Some of us had a very hard year and some of us were doing okay. Personally, I’m eager to jump into 2010 and start planning it. But my group forced me to reflect for a moment (for an hour!) on 2009. I had to answer questions like, “What was my biggest achievement in 2009 in business and/or my personal life?” And “What was my biggest disappointment in 2009 in my business and/or personal life?”
How would you answer those questions?
Hmmm. Well, it feels like this year has been a very “interior” year for me. My biggest achievement was buying my house. My biggest disappointment was that I didn’t teach some classes I wanted to. The truth is that I’ve been focused on the home front and my new single life. Big changes, to be sure. It’s been a crazy money year too. Some income streams were down and some were up.
What do you notice about 2009? What did you achieve? Focus on that for a moment!
Here are five more questions for you. (I adapted these from my Vistage/ Mastermind group.) Read them and share how you would respond:
- What is one thing that if you STOPPED doing, would help you earn what you’re really worth?
- What is one thing that if you STARTED doing, would help you earn what you’re really worth?
- What is working that you want to continue doing next year?
- What isn’t working?
- What are your self-limiting beliefs that prevent you from earning more money? (Yes, I know, that’s a big one.)
I know they’re all big questions.
Regardless of how you answer them (and I’m curious to read your answers!) it’s important to stop and think about this year. What is working and what isn’t? If you can’t name what isn’t working, you can’t shift it.
One year, in answering these questions, I reflected on the fact that I didn’t have enough time to work ON my business. You know- time without clients. I felt scattered and I felt behind. If I STOPPED being so scattered, maybe I could actually find the time to blog and market. What I decided to START doing is to devote one day a week to working ON my business and not see any clients that day. My Mondays were born.
I haven’t seen clients on Mondays in five years. That is my day to read, write, prep, market, and catch up. Sure I do some of that on other days too. But now, I actually look forward to Mondays!
Bonus: I don’t work on the weekends. I know I have Mondays to prep.
So what about you? What are your reflections for 2009? What worked and what didn’t? What are you going to start or stop doing so you can move into 2010 and really earn what you’re truly worth?
Get out a piece of paper or open a new file and write out your own answers. Have a good cup of tea and really think about this. Then jump back on my blog and share some of your answers.
